Ohio State Highway Patrol releases New Year’s holiday report

The Ohio State Highway Patrol is reporting six fatal crashes resulting in seven fatalities on Ohio’s roadways during the 2023-2024 New Year’s holiday, according to provisional statistics. 

Of the seven fatalities, five of those killed were not wearing an available safety belt. 

This is a decrease from the four-day reporting period last year when 13 fatalities were reported. Troopers made 3,259 traffic enforcement contacts, including 272 OVI arrests, 106 distracted driving and 409 safety belt citations.

The four-day reporting period began at midnight on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, and ran through 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. 

The public is encouraged to continue using #677 to report dangerous or impaired drivers, as well as drug activity. A statistical analysis of the Patrol’s enforcement activity over the holiday is available at https://statepatrol.ohio.gov/static/links/NewYearHoliday2024_PIO.pdf.